The lack of knowledge about the traffic rules between drivers and cyclists is one of the problems in traffic safety of cycling. In this thesis, the right-of-way rule knowledge is studied with a gallup questionnaire which focuses on five different traffic situations in which drivers and cyclists encounter in intersections. The study also examines how the respondents’ age, sex, mode of transportation, possession of driver’s license, experience of accidents and own assessment of skills as a driver effect on the knowledge of the rules of the right of way. In addition, this study examines respondents’ opinions about the safety of cycling and other modes of transport and use of bicycle helmet.

The present rule of cyclist’s obligation to yield all straightforward traffic in the intersection of cycle path and driveway has been in effect since 1997. According to this study, the knowledge of this rule has decreased: 34 percent of respondents answered this question correctly. Other traffic rules between drivers and cyclists are known better and the share of right answers has also mostly increased when compared to earlier studies. Driver has to yield cyclist when coming from a direction with a yield sign, and 92 percent of respondents answered correctly to this question. 80 percent of respondents knew that driver has to yield cyclist when turning to a street that cyclist is crossing. The same rule is applied to a roundabout and 73 percent of respondents answered correctly. When a cycle path does not exist, both driver and cyclist have to yield traffic coming from the right, unless a traffic sign indicates otherwise. 70 percent of respondents answered correctly to a question regarding this rule.

Drivers knew all of the rules better than cyclists except for the first rule. Cyclists who have a driver’s license knew the rules better than cyclists who do not. According to the findings measures towards increasing the knowledge of right-of-way rules in cycling should be taken.

In addition, the study finds that respondents consider cycling more dangerous mode of transportation than public transportation, walking or driving. According to the respondents’ answers, cycling should be separated from other modes of transportation and road users are not obeying traffic rules sufficiently. One third of the cyclists report using a bicycle helmet always when cycling and one third most of the time or sometimes when cycling.

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